From the noisy and crowded streets of Nagaland’s capital city Kohima, we careen around tortuous roads and craggy mountains overlooking paddy fields, till we arrive at a huge gate, made of wood and cement.
Standing tall at the entrance of the village, it greets you with the sign "Welcome to Khonoma".
Close by, is a large stone marker with an inscription attributed to the first federal president of Nagaland: “Nagaland will never be a part of India. Their territory is not a part of the Indian union. We shall uphold and defend this unique truth at all costs and always.”
Khonoma Village’s Unique Agricultural Methods
For many years, Khonoma, perched on a rocky spur, 20 miles from Kohima, has been known to take bold steps when it comes to protecting Naga identity and heritage, and is also known as Asia’s first green village. It has resisted the British and the Indian army during times of insurgency.